Texas Tech's Chynna Brown wears a written 33 on her shoe during the Big 12 Tournament on Saturday in Dallas. The team wore the number as their teammate Shauntal Nobles was out for the game.

DALLAS — Each player on the Texas Tech women’s basketball team added some flare to their white sneakers on Saturday.

The number 33 was etched in black marker on each of the players’ shoes as a way to keep ill center Shauntal Nobles in their mind and on the court.

Nobles missed her third consecutive game, staying in Lubbock under doctor’s supervision.

“She’s not allowed to travel and is still under doctor’s care,” said Tech coach Kristy Curry, who added that they are still trying to figure out exactly what is wrong with the junior.

Nobles, who averages 2.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome just before the season, causing the 6-foot-3 center to miss the first six games of the season.

Chynna Brown said she came up with the idea to put “33” on the teams’ sneakers after writing her slain cousin’s name on them for the past two seasons.

She normally writes “SG3” on her kicks, which stands for Steven Govan and his No. 3 jersey from high school.

“We didn’t have Shauny with us, and going into the locker room we have the name tags that are hanging up, and we have Shauny’s name tag. It’s like, ‘Oh, she’s not here,'" Brown said. "Me and Shauny have been close and got close over the years; we played AAU basketball one year together. Just putting that on our shoes was like Shauny was here with us in spirit.”

Amber Battle said Nobles texts the Lady Raiders before the game, wishing them well.

“She’s like a sister to all of us. When she hurts we hurt, so we know that we have to play for her," Battle said.

The Lady Raiders could have used her size on Saturday in the Lady Raiders’ 59-54 loss to Oklahoma State, as Tech was outrebounded and outscored in the paint.

“Hopefully she probably watched this game today,” Brown said, “and she can offer some input on what we need to do better.”

Chynna Brown’s streak of 15 games in double digits came to a screeching halt on Saturday when the senior scored just four points and made no field goals.

She entered the game with four consecutive games with at least 20 points, and on Thursday was named to the All-Big 12 Conference first team.

“A lot of shots that I usually make I couldn’t knock down tonight. I kind of got frustrated, and I had some negativity that was going on that I let get to me and affect me,” Brown said. “I just feel bad because I let my teammates down and just getting caught up in the things that were being said and me listening to that and it going to my head.”

Brown declined to go into the specifics of what was affecting her, but she credited her teammates for continuing to encourage her to shoot. Brown finished 0 for 9 from the floor.

“In the second half I kind of got caught up on some stuff that I shouldn’t have,” said Brown, who entered the game averaging 13.6 points per game and 16.8 points per league game.

Brown was closely guarded by Brittney Martin all night, who didn’t let Brown get separation for her normally smooth pull-up jump shot. Brown also didn’t take any shots from under the basket.

The senior normally gets a couple of fast-break looks each game, but the Cowgirls significantly limited Tech’s scoring chances in transition and off turnovers.

Martin said she was more focused against Brown on Saturday than she was the first two times the teams squared off this season. Brown scored 15 points in Tech’s 64-59 victory against the Cowgirls on Jan. 2, then poured in 22 in the Lady Raiders’ 61-53 win Feb. 27.

Brown drove on Martin the first time, and piled on pull-up shots the second time, Martin said. The Cowgirl was ready for both this time. “I had to just really focus on what she was doing with it or where she’s holding the ball,” Martin said, “just had to focus more than I did the last two games.”

The Texas Tech women’s basketball team now gets a week off from games to prepare a still to-be-determined opponent in the NCAA Tournament. The selection committee will announce the 64-team field at 7 p.m. March 18 on ESPN.

Tech is almost assuredly in the field despite closing the season with three straight losses.

Lubbock is one of 16 host sites for the first and second rounds of the tournament, so the Lady Raiders at least don’t have to prepare for travel for the first two rounds.

Oklahoma State, which defeated the Lady Raiders 59-54 on Saturday, will play No. 1 Baylor at 1 p.m. Sunday in American Airlines Center.

Compiled by Tommy Magelssen

Nobles remains under doctor’s supervision

Brown has rare off game

On deck

Free Throws

Texas Tech has not been to the semifinals of the Big 12 Conference Tournament since the 2004-2005 season ... Tech’s 19-point first half was its lowest point total since a 15-point effort in a 50-48 overtime loss to Michigan State on Dec. 20 ... Kelsi Baker’s 17 points was one shy of tying her career high, which was set in a 66-48 victory against Oregon State on Dec. 21.

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Sorry your teamates couldn't wim it for you Shauntal. Just be glad you weren't playing Bay. With Chynna's "negativity" and the 19 points in the first half, the game would have been over midway throigh the half. Curry I hope since your senior-laden team is gone after the season, you will follow closely behind.

What has happened to this team? Where is there fire? This loss will really hurt them in the seedings, I suspect, and will have an effect on the number of fans going to the first round game of the playoffs in Lubbock.

They went to KSU playing well, and got beat by a team with only six players, then they lose at home on senior night to a good team, but a team they should have beaten. They had the distinction of being the only team in the Big 12 to lose at home on senior night.

Then they go to Dallas with something to play for, pride, if nothing else, and go through the motions for the most part. Yes, the officiating left a lot to be desired but it appeared to be poor on both ends of the court. OSU simply played like they wanted it more. The LRs could have won this game at the free throw line, but could not even hit the rim on a couple of free throws. With the exception of Kelsi and Mo, everyone else played like they were just too tired.

Last night we watched KSU who was playing only for the opportunity to get hammered by Baylor today, fight literally to the very last second in order to beat Texas. They were playing only for pride, but apparently that was enough for those six players, who also did not want to lose to Tech on their senior night, and made sure they did not.

In the OU game and this OSU game, it appeared they did not have a plan, or could not execute a plan if they had one, at the end of the game when they could have won it. Could have, should have, but didn't . . . . . . .

Are you watching this, Mr. Hocutt? Is mediocrity the best we can hope for in the future? Like I said, a disappointing finish to this season.

The poorest display of coaching I've witnessed.
Enough is enough. Did anyone notice the close up of Coach Curry squating down watching her team while chewing her nails. Her body language will tell you she has no place in coaching this team. She was said on a TV commercial that she was working to bring Tech back to the elite or something similar. Palease..........we didn't lose it til she was hired. Seven years & one Big12 winning season record.
Please resign and save us all the humility you've brought to the Lady Raiders. The lack of crowds speaks loudly.

3 tickets for 3 games (9 seats). I recently met a lady who admits to being a big Red Raider fan. I'd read they'd only sold a thousand tickets, so I thought I might 'impress' her with good seats. I was figuring 2-3 seed in the Big 12 tourney, then win 2 games before meeting Baylor, and getting a 3-4 seed in the NCAA sub-regional here. Great plan on my part, or so I thought.

I forgot to plan that: a poor coach who doesn't accept responsibility wouldn't have her women ready to beat a 4-12 squad. Good thing I hadn't purchased those tickets. No way I'm that foolish now. Buying tickets would be like endorsing the coach, so they won't see a dime of my money until she's gone !!!